17 Kids' Movies You Never Realized Had Feminist Messages

Revisiting the movies of your childhood can be a horrifying experience, especially for feminists. Let's just say that many of the cartoon movies of yesteryear aren't exactly in line with contemporary perspectives on gender, sexuality, and race — there are a lot more beasts than beauties when it comes to attitudes towards women and minorities in those films. Fortunately for '90s kids, though, there are still plenty of kids' movies with surprising feminist themes out there, but you have to keep a sharp eye.

One of the uniting qualities of the films on this list is a sense of gendered transgression. While many cartoon movies promote stereotypes and put gender into easily digestible boxes, feminist kids' movies attempt to show the lived experiences of children in ways that respect their experiences and imaginations. Kids are complicated, even though that isn't always the case with the media marketed towards them. Yet sometimes, you can find surprising feminist themes in children's movies, whether they're accurately portraying the emotional lives of characters or featuring storylines that rely on curiosity and exploration. Like being feminist, there are endless ways to be children, and the 17 movies here are ones that hoist up a sense of self-advocacy, showcase healthy friendships, and escape from troubling cultural norms.

1. Matilda

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I mean, it's about a library-loving kiddo who discovers she has supernatural powers and uses them to escape her neglectful parents. Sounds like a pretty obvious choice to me.

6. The Sandlot

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Yeah, it's not a narrative that empowers women, but it does show the emotional truths of boys and their friendships. There's sensitivity, fear, and uncertainty involved, qualities that aren't conventionally masculine.